TEAM HERALD
VASCO: When a trawler capsized off the Vasco coast and claimed two lives while endangering four others on August 1, questions had been raised on the availability of lifejackets on these trawlers.
Enquiries have now revealed that many trawler operators have not equipped their vessels with adequate number of lifejackets for the entire crew, despite the availability of lifejackets at government subsidized rates, thereby endangering those who venture out at sea.
It may be recalled that Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado had told Herald during his visit to Baina beach on August 1, that fishermen had paid scant attention to lifesaving equipment entrusted to them.
“The crew wear lifejackets while leaving the fishing jetty and they remove the safety equipment once at sea, making them vulnerable to the rough sea,” said Furtado.
Asked what action he would initiate against those crew failing to wear lifejackets while at sea, Furtado said: “I will make it compulsory for fishermen who go out at sea to wear lifejackets provided by the government at subsided rates.”
However, Herald enquiries have revealed that while some trawlers are equipped with adequate lifejackets for its crew, other trawlers keep a bare minimum number of lifejackets, irrespective of the number of crew members.
“Many trawlers are ill-equipped with the required number of lifejackets and during an emergency, the stranded crew members are forced to cling on other crew members who have lifejackets,” admitted a crew member from the Vasco fishing jetty, while speaking to Herald.
According to Rony D’Souza, former president of All Goa Trawler Owners Association, there is a short supply of lifejackets in the market, due to which trawler owners find it difficult to buy sufficient quantities of lifejackets.
When reminded that the State government has provided lifejackets at subsidised rates, another trawler owner said: “The subsidy is only on the paper. Many trawler operators who had purchased lifejackets from the government are yet to get back their subsidised amount.”
A third trawler owner told Herald that the fisheries department should regularly visit fishing jetties and conduct surprise inspections to verify if all trawlers are fully equipped with the required number of lifejackets.
“Officials from the fisheries department visit the jetty only once a year to inspect trawlers. They fail to conduct surprise checks, especially during the fishing season, to ascertain if all trawlers are equipped with the required number of lifejackets,” the trawler operator said.
When contacted, All Goa Trawler Owners Association President Sydney Furtado insisted that all fishing trawlers at Vasco jetty are fully equipped with lifejackets.
When reminded that though some trawlers were equipped with lifejackets, they were insufficient for the entire crew, Furtado replied: “During every association meeting, trawler owners are informed about the importance of lifejackets and are also advised to keep lifejackets in proportion to crew members.”
“I am not aware of trawlers keeping insufficient lifejackets. The association cannot force anybody to keep the required number of lifejackets in their respective trawlers,” he added.
When asked why trawler owners were reluctant to keep the required lifejackets despite government subsidies, Furtado said: “Trawler owners can also buy lifejackets without availing of government subsidy, as each lifejacket costs Rs 400.”
Furtado also claimed that steps were being taken by fisheries department. “During routine checks, if officials of the fisheries department find any trawler without lifejackets, then they send the trawler back to its respective jetty,”
Speaking to Herald, Director of Fisheries Dr Sharmila Monteiro claimed that lifejackets had been subsidized and claimed that all trawlers have them. “The department also keeps a check to ensure that these trawlers have lifejackets,” said Dr Monteiro.
When asked why a trawler owner and a crew member had lost their lives if they there were sufficient lifejackets on board, Dr Monteiro replied: “We were told that all crew members on the ill-fated trawler had lifesaving equipment. However, two of them were trapped in the cabin and got drowned.”
